It would be easy to walk past this building and miss the history so stop by and enjoy the early…read more1900's architecture. There's even a plaque! The plaque reads, "Cadillac-Chrysler Building. Built in 1919. This building, designed by Wm. A. Balsch, Architects, was built by Cadillac Automobile Company of Saint Louis when it outgrew its building at 2920-22 Locust Street. The dealership became Oliver Cadillac in 1927, and remained here through 1930." "During the time this building was a Cadillac dealership, Cadillac entered the "Classic Car" era and Cadillac sales doubled as its wheelbases grew, up to 152 inches in length on some models. Syncromesh transmissions and four wheel, vacuum assisted brakes were introduced and its V-8 motor grew to 353 cubic inches with 96 horsepower. By 1920, an optional, 452 cubic inch V-16 motor, producing 185 horsepower was available." "In 1927, Cadillac introduced the LaSalle, promoted as a "Companion Car to Cadillac". With Cadillac like quality, but slightly smaller , on a 125 inch wheelbase and with a smaller V-8 motor, the LaSalle was sold in Cadillac showrooms, until it was replaced by the Cadillac Model 61, in 1941." "From 1932 through 1948, this building houses the L.M. Stewart, Inc. Chrysler-Plymouth dealership. Chryslers ranged from upper middle price cars, to its Imperial model, which were direct competitors of Cadillac. In 1934, Chrysler introduced the Airflow, a marketing disappointment despite its revolutionary design and construction improvements, including the first American car with unitized construction." "This Plaque Dedicated By The Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri and Hilliker Corporation." [Review 14441 overall, 1767 of 2020, number 75 in Missouri.]

Located on the northeast corner of the Saint Louis County Police Department building at Forsyth and…read moreCentral, this memorial is "In grateful memory of those who paid the supreme sacrifice while in military service during the World War of 1917-1918." It lists 148 names - too many names - of the men and women who served and were killed during "The World War." Yes, because when this was unveiled, there was just the one. The memorial is in excellent condition and the list of names is easily legible. They are in alphabetical order by last name with the two women listed separately below. "The gave the last full measure of devotion." -Abraham Lincoln In the snow, you can't see the small garden and benches. [Review 34 of 2025 - 410 in Missouri - 23606 overall]

This monument is located at the intersection of Gravois Avenue and Morganford Road. This…read moreneighborhood is known as "Little Bosnia" as it houses the heart of the Bosnian immigrant community. The Sebilj is an Ottoman-style wooden fountain in the centre of Baščaršija Square in Sarajevo built by Mehmed Pasha Kukavica in 1753. According to a local legend, visitors who drink water from this fountain will return to Sarajevo someday. I'm not sure if drinking the water from the one here in Saint Louis means that you will return to Saint Louis... or to Sarajevo. As I've not yet visited Sarajevo - no Yelp there! - I don't know if this is a great copy of that original fountain. [Review 17257 overall - 159 in Missouri - 774 of 2022.]

This museum was awesome! I wasn't expecting much from this small home, but I was more than…read moreimpressed. I have never been to a museum that uses the home like it was used in its hay-day. The kitchen was remodeled in the late 1800's so they rebuilt a detached replica of the original kitchen which was the very neat. They tour guide let us touch all the utensils, cookware, and tools while she explained how they would have been used. Inside, they tore the building down to the bricks and rebuilt it exactly as it was in 1820. If you have a couple hours to explore while in Edwardsville, stop for a tour....you will be impressed.

Pierre Martin/Nicholas Boisrnenue House, East Carondelet, IL…read more I was allowed access to the inside the Martin-Boismenue House on October 10, 2015 for a photo-shoot. The house is now owned by the State of Illinois' Historic Preservation Agency. The Martin-Boismenue House used to hold two annual open-houses where the public was invited to view the interior of this late 18th century homestead and to interact with costumed interpreters to learn about French Colonial America. Traditionally these open houses were held during the Fete du Bons Vieux Temps in February and the St. Nicholas Tradition event in December, but they have not been held for over 10 years. The Pierre Martin Family. The Martin family was an old and large French Canadian family. Pierre Martin was born in La Rivenue Parish, Quebec, ca. 1745. He had arrived in the Illinois Country and was living in the village of Cahokia by 1770, the year he married Marie St. Yves. Pierre at age 42. He was listed in the 1787 census as the male head of a household living in Cahokia with two children. Pierre Martin was a Revolutionary War veteran. In the 1790 census, Pierre is listed as head of the household in the village of Prairie du Pont (East Carondelet), Illinois. He apparently acquired the property in this year as an improvement claim which require that he farm the land and built a house. It is therefore assumed that the Martini Boismenue House was constructed in 1790. In 1794, his Prairie du Pont property is described as consisting of a house, barn lot, garden, and other small outbuildings. The Martin-Boismenue House is a surviving example of the French Creole poteaux-sur-solle (post-on-sill) construction and one of the oldest structures of its kind in Illinois. This type of construction utilized upright hewn logs that were seated on a horizontal log sill and the spaces between the logs were filled with pierrotage chinking of mortar and rubble. The original building measures 20 x 35 ft and consisted of two rooms separated by a receiving hall and a one room or half basement with a separate rear entrance. The larger first floor room was the parlor, or salle, and was a multi-purpose living area. The smaller first floor room was the sleeping room, or chambre, and was a more private area. Limestone fireplaces were located at each end of the house including one in the half basement. There is a large attic which runs the entire length of the house. The house contained a stone cooking fireplace situated in a half basement, or souterrain, a rarity among similar structures that may reflect the prosperity of the owners. The basement likely functioned as a work space and living quarters as well. The original house is approximately 80% intact. A common feature of Creole architecture are the broad open porches, known as galeries, located on the front and back of the house. The galeries offered additional living space in fair weather as well as to keep the sun and rain off the whitewashed walls. At the end of the 18th century, the majority of European settlement in the middle Mississippi River Valley was confined to a sixty-mile strip between Cahokia and Kaskaskia (the Ste. Genevieve area). This fertile river bottomland, now known as the American Bottom, was the breadbasket for the Louisiana Territory. The principal crop grown was wheat but other commodities included corn, pumpkins, oats, barley, flax, cotton, and tobacco. Farmers in Pierre Martin's era would use a common field called the le grand champ. Martin would cultivate and harvest his crops with the help of his family, his one or two slaves, and hired day laborers. Once harvested, Martin would have transported his crops south to Kaskaskia where it would then be shipped to New Orleans. In 1806, Pierre Martin put up the two lots with a house and barn in Prairie du Pont and two common field tracts as collateral for a loan to Jean Francois Perrey. In the same year, his wife died, and his death at age 62 followed the next year. With Martin's debt unpaid, the probates indicate that Perrey was compensated out of the estate sale. The barn and lot were sold for $13. 00 and the house - described as "avec souterraint" (finished basement) - was sold for $96.00 to Baptiste Gendron. Throughout the early 19th century, several owners are indicated and during the late 19th century into the early 20th century it was owned by members of the Boismenue family. The Boismenue family of French Canadian descent appear in the records at Cahokia in the 18th century. It was not until 1980, when the Martin/Boismenue House was destined for demolition, that it became evident that the building was of vertical log construction. When workmen began to strip off the modern siding from the front of the structure, the distinctive vertical log timbers of the original building were exposed (Figure 5). Within 24 hours, a local group of citizens was organized with the intention of saving the structure for its historical significance.

Located on the East Saint Louis side of the river next to the Eads Bridge and underneath the East…read moreRiverfront Metro Station, this small spot has a stone garden and some signs pointing out the camp site of the famous explorers. The first marker reads, "Lewis and Clark in Illinois. On December 10, 1803 Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and their party camped at this place opposite Saint Louis. The next morning, Clark left Lewis in Saint Louis before beading upstream towards a winter campsite. They would spend five months in Illinois before heading west on their famous expedition. Erected 2003 by the State of Illinois and the Illinois Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission." The second marker reads, "Lewis & Clark Expedition, 1803-1806". York, as Clark's Body Slave, was an active voting emmber of the expedition. Described as big, very dark, strong, agile, athletic and playful, York was known as "Big Medison" to Native Americans. From near this site he often paddled Lewis and Clark by canoe to Saint Louis for meetings and supplies. York was a hunter, nurse, poled the keelboat, made fires and put his life at risk for the safety of Clark. He may have been freed by Clark between 1811 & 1815." [Review 17221 overall - 117 in Illinois - 738 of 2022.]

This 10 story, 135 ft terra cotta office buildings from 1890 is in downtown St. Louis. It is…read moreconsidered to be one of the first aesthetically fully expressed early skyscrapers. It's a locked & empty city office building now.

This was a fun stop along our rainy morning stroll through downtown St.louis. I noticed the handful…read moreof reviews and that it was only a couple of blocks from where we were staying. This is also BBC an easy walk from both the Arch abc City Park. Speaking of which, goodness, I love City Park... Back to the Wainwright...you'll see a marker on the corner of the building noting that this building is on the national landmark registry and cited as being the grandfather of the modern day skyscraper. The building was built in the late 1800s and features a striking red facade and ornate archways over each of the door entrances. Somewhat related...two blocks away from here you can find delicious fluffy doughnuts from Pharaoh's Doughnuts. Enjoy your walking your if downtown St.Louis!

An adorable, rustic log cabin in the midst of a modern-day subdivision, the Bacon Log Cabin is…read moreworth a trip. The cabin is open May-October on the 1st & 3rd Sundays from 1pm-4pm and maintained by the Old Trails Historical Society. 2015 marks the 180th anniversary of the cabin, which was built by William Douglas Bacon. Unfortunately, the structure contains little to no actual bacon (boo) but it has been restored as a pioneer cabin. The stone fireplace is original as are the logs, beams, and some fireplace bricks. The cabin houses period furnishings and a museum display of West St. Louis County historical memorabilia. The docent, Irene, was highly knowledgeable and extremely spry for 86. In addition to giving tours, she helped fund the preservation of the root cellar on the property, cans her own raspberry preserves, and quilts. I felt as though I had taken a step back in time to a simpler, but definitely not easier, way of living. There were a lot of things to take in during the walk through the cabin, including a kitchen, bedroom, working gun above the mantelpiece. In June 2015, the Forget Me Not Garden Club dedicated a Blue Star Memorial byway marker, honoring service men and women, that can be found near the front entrance. The dedication that members of this historical society have shown to restoring this structure and open it to public viewing is inspiring. A must see, underrated historical attraction for anyone with an interest in historic houses and Americana.